Right-wing populist parties have established themselves with solid electorates in almost all European countries, representing a growing threat for next year’s EU elections, according to a study by the German Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

Almost everywhere in Europe, right-wing populist parties have "established themselves as relevant political forces", says a study released on Monday (2 December) by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung, a foundation associated with the conservative political party the Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

The study says politicians should not ignore the role of these parties in the political landscape.

Anti-European sentiment is on the rise across the continent. A recent opinion poll gave French far-right leader Marine Le Pen a 24% share of the vote, potentially making the Front National the biggest French delegation in the European Parliament next year. "I am interested in Europe, because I am fighting it with all my strength," she said in a 2011 interview.

France is not alone in this respect. In member states such as Denmark, the Netherlands, Austria and the United Kingdom right-wing and nationalist parties have gained strength, "exerting their influence in their countries of origin as well as at the European level," according to the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

Charismatic leaders like Geert Wilders in the Netherlands or Heinz-Christian Strache in Austria share a particularly tough stance against immigrants and reject outright the European institutions.

"Harsh EU criticism is part of the regular repertoire," the authors of the study note. “This element is what makes the boundary between 'us', normal and righteous citizens, and 'them', the distant political bureaucrats so apparent," it says.

Right-wing populist parties are also notorious "naysayers", the study says, noting they are against immigration, pluralism, cultural diversity and European integration. Moreover, these parties tend to have stable electorates from across the entire political spectrum.

Right-wing populist spillover

Worryingly, the authors note that right-wing populist views tend to "spillover to other [mainstream] parties and affect their positions".

The study links Prime Minister David Cameron's proposal for a referendum on British membership of the European Union to growing support for the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). Cameron has also had to take account of Eurosceptic members of his own Conservative Party.

The authors also say that without pressure from the nationalist and populist True Finns, Finland's National Coalition party would probably not have been so hesitant to pledge further bailouts to crisis-ridden eurozone neighbours.

The study advises mainstream political parties to confront right-wing populist movements by debunking their claims. "Empty political phrases from right-wing and national-populist parties should be debunked through direct thematic confrontation," it recommends.

Conservative parties in particular must play a role by offering more frequent and understandable explanations of EU decision-making processes, for example by emphasising the successes of eurozone stabilisation policy, says the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung publication.

Ethnically charged issues

The foundation's study comes amid fears that right-wing populist parties could make significant gains at the 2014 EU elections, with some polls suggesting they could win up to 25% of seats in the next European Parliament.

"This would make it extremely difficult for democratic parties to pursue proper politics,” explained Jan Philipp Albrecht, a German Green MEP who hosted the launch of the study.

“Right-wing extremist parties already use their presence in the European Parliament to legitimise racist and populist positions and to enjoy various financial benefits," Albrecht warned. "In their so-called Kulturkampf [culture war] over Europe's identity, [these parties] are adding to the polarisation of the political debate", the Green MEP contended.

A new edition of Albrecht’s own study, called ‘Europe on the Far Right’, came out on Monday (2 December). It looks back on the influence right-wing radical MEPs have had on the work of the European Parliament over the past five years. With limited representation, populist members have so far not been able to exercise direct legislative power in the European Parliament, Albrecht argues.

Still, their presence has not been without effect as the political agenda can be influenced through the appointment of rapporteurs and through written positions, he contends.

"In many member states we can observe that right-wing radical parties have been chasing governments forward on topics like immigration and domestic security," explained Tobias Peter who co-authored the study by Jan Philip Albrecht. "Instead of pointing out the social causes for societal problems, these issues are ethnically charged by right-wing radicals so that they are reinterpreted as problems related purely to immigration," he said.

Background

Eurosceptic parties around Europe have shown their willingness to act on a European level. The controversial Dutch far-right leader Geert Wilders recently toured Europe in an attempt to forge a new movement of far-right parties ahead of the European elections.

But not many supposed “like-minded” parties were ready to join the initiative, and UKIP, the most vocal Eurosceptic party in the European Parliament, rejected the proposition outright.

Eurosceptic political parties are blossoming in many European countries, but their backgrounds and causes are very different. Analysts have argued that even though the next Parliament could have a much higher number of Eurosceptic, even populist MEPs, they have a smaller chance of forming a coherent bloc.

According to this article then, the UK Labour Party would seem to be right-wing and populist as it has categorically stated it is against further European integration and to quote Ed Balls (Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer) ‘We were wrong to allow so many eastern Europeans into Britain’ (The Guardian, June 6th 2010.)Even the Liberal Democrats, who are in the government and are the most fervently pro EU party supported David Cameron’s recently stated position on reducing freedom of movement.

It could easily be argued that the mainstream political parties in the UK are simply responding to the widespread hostility to the EU that has been in existence for decades. The only thing that has changed is that now the anti EU faction has at long last become better organised.

With regards to the element reporting “The foundation’s study comes amid fears that right-wing populist parties could make significant gains at the 2014 EU elections, with some polls suggesting they could win up to 25% of seats in the next European Parliament. “This would make it extremely difficult for democratic parties to pursue proper politics,”

Does this mean that only pro EU parties are democratic ? That only pro EU parties are able to “pursue proper politics”? It seems Jan Philipp Albrecht has completely forgotten what democracy is.

“Populist” is in EUrophile speak a derogatory term to mean a moronic, right leaning imbecile who is easily led and should have no right to express him/herself, and certainly not be allowed to vote. Generally they don’t agree with ever closer integration and homogenisation of Europe. So unless your name is Verhofstadt, Cohn-Bendit or Schulz then you are most likely a “populist”

First we had “xenophobic” a term used to silence anyone who dares question or criticizes their plans on immigration & now we have “Populist” the EU term referring to the democratic will of the people that the anti-democratic federalists have no intention of following.

I am happy to agree with Charles M’s point of view. The classic intolerant attitude of the pro-EU camp is that if you disagree with them, you are populist, right wing (what’s wrong with that? Cohn-Bendit was communist until he found he couldn’t afford to be one anymore, just like the USSR found they couldn’t afford communism)as if that means you are a fascist/nazi. I hope that the right of so-called populism/right wing politicians will cause some pause for thought by all to see that, much as hate to agree with Cameron, the EU is in dire need of reform. Free movement of people is one thing, which I understand. Wholesale surrender of control over the costs of what all of that implies is ludicrous and is a classic example of the “federasts” (see, I can be insulting too!!)who will go for total integration, regradless o fthe social cost.

“”This would make it extremely difficult for democratic parties to pursue proper politics,”

Democratic parties? In what way are the parties such a UKIP not democratic? What is “proper politics”?

If “pro-EU” parties were enjoying a surge in votes, would they be “populist”? Of course not, in the rose-tinted world of the MEP this would represent rhe voters being informed and sensible.

It is only when voters take the “incorrect view” that they are ignorant, racist, xenophobes.

One can sympathise, of course. I imagine that the pro-EU-ans constantly think “if only we could get on with the Project without annoyances like having to take notice of what the electorate have to say”

“If only the True Finns had not go all those votes, we could have happily ignored the Finnish people and started transferring their tax money to bail out other countries.”

It seems that some persons only wish democracy in so far as voters expressing approval for their own policies, rather than someone else’s.

Of course, this attitude merely serves to increase the votes for others of a differing view.

Yes, conservatives should explain the “success” of eurozone stabilization policy to the masses of unemployed in Spain and Greece. If Reichskanzler Brüning had also explained his deflationary austerity better, certainly this would have avoided certain unfortunate historical developments. In fact, the same causes do not produce the same effects, it’s all a matter of communication and spin.

How can any party that is against European integration and institutions take up a seat in the EP? Bit of a conflict of interests, I think? But no, not if the purpose is just to disturb proceedings, and to invalidate the decision making process. In that respect the mainstream is right to view them with distrust. But the Euro politicians have a lesson to learn as well. They must offer solid guarantees that a nation’s culture and ethnic integrity will always be a foundation for a united Europe, and not be under any threat. Then the populist base will just bleed away.

I am right-leaning and pro-EU, so I guess there must be something wrong in me.

I think that what these useless “think-tanks” (which have nothing to do with the real EU, but they’re just parasite organisms) don’t understand is that the upper levels of parties like UKIP, M5S, TF et al. are made of opportunists that just want to fish the votes of the people who are frustrated by the economical crisis. When the opportunity of leaving EU will present, Farage & co. will just back away telling that they love Europe of friendly nations but hate Europe of bankers. Too many interests involved, but their butt will be already nailed to a seat so everyone’ll be happy.

I hope the “so-called” right wing “Populists” will win > 30 % at the EU elections ! We have to re-think the “European Project”. What is good and what has been bad. We should turn back what has not been good such as the Eurons. Europe does not need a common currency just to help bankers in the US to have less calculations to make. This is the first thing to be made undone. This only will seeme hate in Europe whereas we are looking for peace, the best thing the EU was bringing to the its people.

“This would make it extremely difficult for democratic parties to pursue proper politics,” rather sums up the Europhile point of view, ie you are permitted to have free expression if we approve of your point of view, if not it is “populist” or worse still “xenophobic”, ie buzz word designed to shut down debate.

The problem is that the peoples of Europe are waking up to the intent of the Europhile elite and their determination to destroy the European nation states and European culture and replace it with a model engineered in the cauldron of 1968.

The EU has not brought peace to europe, the EU made the politicians who would have wanted war, in peace. Good for them and their pockets, good for the officials and servants who are far better paid than their equals in state service, good for the large companies who have gained greatly from the central decision making, by central lobbying overruling local politics, local checks and balances.

And the EU peoples can pay for that, with billions for ‘solidarity’, for keeping up the banks, for supporting Morsi; and with mass unemployment. Whereas before the euro, each country had the sovereignty to adjust its currency while safeguarding their democracies, that’s all gone now.

So, you can’t legally create a Neo-Nazi party? Just create an anti-EU one!
As a leader of an anti-EU party you can openly speak about all the issues you want:
– about evil immigrants who stole your jobs
– about evil foreigners who want to rule your country
– about how your nation is in all aspects better than other nations
You can even wear a Nazi-like uniform and no one bats an eye!
And the best thing: you don’t need to advertise your covert Neo-Nazi party – just speak about evil immigrants and all of your Neo-Nazi comrades will vote for you anyway.

– about evil immigrants who stole your jobs
– about evil foreigners who want to rule your country
– about how your nation is in all aspects better than other nations

You don’t have to believe any of the above nonsense to disagree with the way the EU is going. Maybe Otto hasn’t noticed but not all EU counties are equal – I bet he’d rather be German (which he isn’t) than Greek, Bulgarian, or even French

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